Business leaders in the West Midlands heard a series of rallying calls urging them to seek the contracts which will help create a successful 2012 London Games.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell was keynote speaker at a conference attended by around 300 delegates at Wolverhampton's Molineux stadium yesterday.

The Minister said West Midlands was "eager and capable of helping to deliver the huge project ahead of us".

She added: "I am absolutely determined that London 2012 will actually be UK 2012, reflecting the tremendous opportunities for all parts of our country to benefit from the world's greatest event coming here."

She said hard work was under way "to spread the economic dividend from 2012" and she applauded the work done by bodies like Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Business Council.

Jack Lemley, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Author-ity, said the 2012 Games offered a great opportunity for business in the West Midlands and throughout the rest of the UK, not just in construction and infrastructure, but in many other areas.

He said: "My message is that you haven't missed the boat. The vast majority of opportunities are to come, but you do need to make sure your company is fully prepared to take advantage of them in the years to come."

John Edwards, chief executive at Advantage West Midlands, said the economic potential of the London 2012 Games was huge.

He said: "It is estimated that £17 billion will be spent by 2012 on transport infrastructure alone.

"We have some world class businesses here in the West Midlands - from manufacturing companies to those in the construction trade and from design agencies to logistics companies.

"From what I've heard West Midlands businesses are hungry to make the most of this fantastic opportunity and we will ensure that they are supported every step of the way."

Delegates also heard details of how the West Midlands Business Council's 2012 Games Task Force - led by the Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce - intended to keep businesses updated on procurement and other opportunities.

Plans for a West Midlands Business Club were under way and it was likely that this would include a seminar and workshop programme for businesses.

It was expected that the main contracts for London 2012 would begin to be advertised from 2007 onwards.

West Midlands businesses who are interested in finding out more about procurement opportunities for London 2012 s hould email info@wmbusinesscouncil.org.uk.

Delegates also heard from a West Midlands company - Rural Productions - which has supplied VIP suites for both the 2004 Athens summer Games and the 2006 Turin winter Games.

Another company, Simworx, talked about their experiences of supplying motion simulators.

The conference was organ-ised by AWM and the West Midlands Business Council and hosted by Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East and parliamentary secretary to the Cabinet Office.